Wand in de salon van Hôtel d' Argenson 1859

Alphonse Guilletat created this print of the 'Wand in de salon van Hôtel d' Argenson' using an unspecified medium, offering us a glimpse into the opulent designs favored during the reign of Louis XV. The image captures the symmetry and elaborate detail typical of the Rococo style. It reflects the cultural values of the French aristocracy, where appearances and aesthetics reinforced social status. The ornate decorations, with their emphasis on luxury and refinement, served to visually separate the elite from the lower classes. Spaces such as this acted as stages on which the rituals of power and class were performed and witnessed. However, such extravagance existed against a backdrop of increasing social inequality and unrest, which would eventually lead to the French Revolution. Thus, this image is a document of a particular moment in history. Think about how spaces reflect values, as well as contain and shape our lives.